Detachable ash tray for match packs



Feb. 10, 1953 GARBER 2,627,971

DETACHABLE ASH TRAY FOR MATCH PACKS Filed Dec. 6, 1950 INVENTOR. RAY H CAREER ATTORNE Patented. Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE as TRAY FOR MATCH Packs Ray H. Garber, Minneapolis, Minn. Application December a, 1950, Serial No. 199,49d

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a new and novel ash tray adapted for use in conjunction with a conventional match pack.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ash tray which may readily and conveniently be attached to a conventional match pack.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ash tray provided at its opposite sides with inwardly facing grooves adapted to receive the opposed side edges of a wall of a match pack, thereby to slidably secure the ash tray to the match pack, whereby it may readily be partially withdrawn to an open position for the reception of ashes and the like, whenever desired.

A further object is to provide in combination with a conventional match pack, an ash tray having means for detachably and slidably securing it to the back wall thereof, whereby the ash receiving portion of said tray is normally so supported on said back wall that ashes and other debris contained in the ash tray are not likely to be spilled or discharged therefrom,

when the tray is in its normal closed position on 7 the match pack.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the ash tray, whereby it may be manufactured in quantity production at very low cost; in the formation of such an ash tray from a single blank of sheet material having its opposed marginal edges folded inwardly over the blank to provide inwardly facing grooves for receiving the opposed edges of a wall of a conventional match pack; and in the provision of such a device which may readily and quickly be operatively attached to any conventional match pack without the use of tools or instruments, and whereby the ash tray is always readily available and ready for use, when the person carrying it lights a cigarette or cigar; and in the provision of such a device which readily lends itself for use as an advertising specialty.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claim which follows:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ash tray showing it operatively secured to the back wall of a conventional match pack;

Figure 2 is a side view of a match pack with the ash tray in its normal closed position;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3'3 of Figure 2, showing the longitudinally extending inwardly facing'grooves for receiving the opposed marginal side edges of the bottom wall of a match pack; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the cover of a, match pack in open position and the ash tray positioned to be slid into place on the back wall of the match pack.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, a convention-a1 match pack comprising the usual back wall 2 having a cover 3 attached to the back wall by an intermediate panel 4. The opposite end 5 of the bottom wall is folded over said bottom wall and cooperates therewith to secure a plurality of matches 6 thereto. A staple 1 is shown driven through the wall portion 5, back wall 2, and the base of the matches, as is well known in the art.

The novel ash tray herein disclosed is preferably formed from a single blank of sheet material, such as sheet aluminum, and comprises a body 8 having it central portion depressed, as shown at 9, to provide a receptacle for receiving ashes, burnt matches, and the like, when the device is in use.

The opposed marginal side edges of the blank are inwardly turned to provide spaced parallel flanges l I having rounded corners, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, to facilitate fitting the tray onto a match pack. The inwardly turned flanges H are spaced from the body of the ash tray to provide longitudinally extending grooves l2 adapted to receive the opposed edges 13 of the back wall 2 of the match pack.

When mounting the tray on a conventional match pack such as illustrated in the application drawing, the cover 3 is preferably folded back, as shown in Figure l, and the ash-tray is then fitted onto the opposed side edges of the cover, and slid forwardly thereon until it reaches a, position on the back wall 2, whereby the receptacle 9 will be completely closed. To open the receptacle, the ash tray is slid in a direction towards the butt end OIiLthB match pack, whereby the leading ends of the flanges ll may out small slits in the butt end of the match pack, as indicated at l 4 in Figure 1. When so supported on the match pack,

the ash tray may readily be slid to an ash-receiving position, as shown in Figure 1, without danger of the tray becoming detached from the match pack. When the ashes have been deposited in the tray 5, the tray is slid under the back wall of the match pack to the position shown in Figure 2, whereby the ash-receiving portion of the tray is concealed under the back wall of the match pack, which then serves as a cover therefor.

The novel ash tray herein disclosed has been found extremely practical in actual use, as it assures a smoker that he always has available a place in which to deposit ashes, burnt matches, and the like, regardless of where he may be.

The feature of carrying it directly on the match pack is of utmost importance because each time a smoker lights a cigarette or cigar, and even a pipe, he may deposit the burnt match in the ash tray by simply partially withdrawing the ash tray from the match pack to expose the receptacle, as shown inFigure l. The flanges H of the ash tray are so formed that the ash tray is not likely to become detached from the match pack once it has been secured thereto, as shown in the application drawing.

The novel ash tray herein disclosed also readily lends itself for; use as an advertising specialty because of its inexpensive construction, and in that the back or bottom side of the tray provides adequate space upon which to display advertising matter and the like.

The. foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations shouldbe understood therefrom, but the appended claim should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

An ash-tray adapted to be frictionally secured to the back wall of a conventional match book formed by folding one end of a strip of cardboard upon itself to provide a U-shaped fold between the walls of which a plurality of matches are secured and whereby the remaining portion of the strip of cardboard may be folded over the matches to provide a closure therefor, said ash tray being formed from a single blank of sheet metal and comprising a rectangular Wall portion having its major central portion depressed to provide an enlarged open receptacle, the opposed marginal side edges of said body being inwardly folded over adjacent wall portions thereof and spaced therefrom to provide inwardly facing elongated parallel grooves adapted to receive the opposed side edges of the back wall of a match book, thereby to detachably secure the receptacle in position thereon, the corners of said inwardly turned flanges at one end of said tray being outwardly curved from their inner edges whereby said edges may readily be forced through the ends of said U-shaped fold to permit one end of the tray to be projected from beneath the back wall of the match book and whereby the ash tray is frictionally retained in position on the match book regardless of whether in open or closed position.

- RAY H. GARBER.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 'IVIOOI'E Dec. 29, 1942 

